Drawabox Lesson 1: The Principles of Markmaking

[@corr2143]

I remember in Grade 8 we had to teach Grade 1 students how to use the computer in the library, and I felt frustrated but also laughed watching them move the mouse and constantly MISS the button or the folder they tried to click, it took them awhile to develop that hand eye coordination with the mouse. I can not yet get my lines to go from point to point without missing, must be hard for art teachers to watch students not be able to make lines at first with their elbow from point to point for awhile.

[@Uncomfortable]

It's only hard if you don't see the benefit of mistakes. School teaches us that mistakes are bad, to be avoided, and that if we make them we ourselves are bad. But they're just a part of the learning process, and they're the tool by which we learn and improve.

[@black-g8m2x]

I want to say some thing to it learn that is you do something harder then what you used to you well be better at lower lvl it like games when you play normal you have no problem but when you higher the difficulty the game be come harder then when you go back to the normal you see it is easier and you improved fast Summary: When you do hard for your lvl you well improve fast Go search it youtube how to master a skill and go see the videos you well understand that

[@joeschmoe3815]

​@@black-g8m2x exactly, challenge yourself but don't choose a difficulty that is too advanced otherwise you will gain nothing from it. It's like sports, really: slow running --> normal speed --> fast --> marathon. When you're totally out of shape, try starting a bit below normal (at least for some percentage of your training) but don't try to do a marathon. You'll be frustrated......or in hospital 😂

[@JoshuaMurray-sv1ny]

Nice to know 👍

[@OmnomberryTea]

Maybe this can help someone. Id like to add something I noticed about my lines when I was drawing the boxes later on. I sometimes make really easy straight lines and often when i start my daily hour of practice I cannot for the love of god make a straight line. I realized: Sitting posture was the key for me. When I sit straight, with my chest out and shoulders slightly back (not crazy but u can feel your muscles on the side of your chest pulling the shoulder slightly back and downwards, if that makes sense), then my lines look amazing. I do 2 ghosted lines and then stop on the starting point and draw long beautiful lines. Im like, how did I make these ?! (since im a fresh beginner). Ofc they dont look perfect or anything, but they feel so much better, I can 100% tell which ones I did with proper posture. Im not sure if this has a stronger impact on me since Im tall with long arms, but the difference is amazing. To be honest Im really enjoying what drawing is doing to my sitting posture, especially my shoulders since I have shortened muscles on my right shoulder from bad gaming posture over many years.

[@Uncomfortable]

Posture is certainly important, and has considerable bearing on how our marks come out.

[@jiafeistan7657]

Thank you! I'm very tall as well, so this is helpful.

[@monadoboy1887]

My god this is great Help! I never realized how a slight change of posture can change things. I don't have a specific workspace and am doing this sitting on the edge of my bed so my posture was naturally bad.

[@Bibartillust]

OMAGAA

[@averagetrailertrash]

Mindset plays a big role too. I find that if I'm distracted or upset, it's a lot harder to get precise linework. Doing something like perfect parallel lines across the page is 100% a mind game.

[@Crowflake93]

"Don't expect perfection" is one of the best tip I've ever heard, yet also one of the hardest to follow.

[@hsterts]

I thought these guides were old as I discovered drawabox years ago, glad to see youre still working on these

[@Uncomfortable]

They say the best way to learn is to teach - so in all the critiques I do over the years, I inevitably come up with ways that I prefer to explain certain concepts. It's pretty important to me that I go back over the existing material and update it to incorporate these new approaches, so the material can be as effective as I can manage.

[@osrsonly6486]

@@Uncomfortable You're an amazing person man. Thank you so much for everything that you do!

[@Dante_number1]

@@Uncomfortable this is amazing I'm new and these videos have helped alot

[@Squishiiy]

"Don't expect perfection" I used to doodle alot when i was younger but I do this thing where i convince myself that I'm not good enough & quit before I allow myself to fail or even learn anything. It's still an issue i have into adulthood (i am quite literally my own worst enemy & bully lol) so I decided to commit myself to learning how to draw & I am loving these lessons bc I'm not just learning how to draw or the fundamentals of art. This whole process has taught me alot about myself mentally & forces me to face my fears/insecuirties & overcome them! Thank you for taking the time to make this course - I don't think you realize how helpful these lessons & your words of advice are - even outside of art. I am pretty excited to be on this journey of learning! thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@Uncomfortable]

I am genuinely thrilled to hear that - thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad the principles we put forward in this course resonated with you!

[@najeeamurray323]

I have been praying for an art course that would teach me the basics I've missed being for the most part self-taught. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to share this with us! God Bless! :)

[@Uncomfortable]

It's my pleasure.

[@Beyt_El]

I’m a self taught artist been drawing for over 2 decades. I’m really glad there is a resource like this available to the public. I’m starting this lesson and look forward to the improvements I’ll make in the future. Thank you so much for your kindness in sharing your knowledge.

[@davidparra1009]

I did this course 2 years ago, completly, all the exercises everything. And at the end, I didn't feel like drawing and you know why ? because I rush not enjoy, I want to come back do the course again BUT this time I have the mentality of enjoy! not perfection expected ;3 Its an amazing course!

[@bisaiya87]

Just rememer his 50% rule

[@Azyrion_]

oh he's remaking them, he might catch up before I'm even done with rotated boxes lol.

[@mskeels9772]

Hi! I just wanna give you a super duper thank you for making these videos. I've searched forever to find something like this. I'm teaching myself, so these videos are extremely useful.

[@Uncomfortable]

I'm glad to hear you're finding my material to be useful!

[@dummyaccountwoop8921]

I'm so glad you're back, you're probably the only person I know that goes in depth into how to create lines

[@leonchi7796]

Just as I'm revisiting and restarting Drawabox from the start, to hopefully finish it this time, the videos are being revamped. Nice nice

[@bearshaman]

I started Drawabox a couple years back and did not finish it. I decided to go through the entire course starting from the beginning this year, and it's surprising how many of these concepts I have already internalized despite not even finishing the course the first time. It feels like I'm starting in a better place this time, and focusing more on the learning process, and I'm excited about what I'll learn and internalize next. Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible

[@cleric1125]

I haven't drawn since high school, something like 16 years ago. I was only ever good enough to impress classmates and never practiced at home. Taking this course hoping to rediscover my love for art and realizing ALL of my sketch work in high school was wrist/finger movement chicken scratch (rapid short stroke marks to make up a line). I would go for continuous lines while inking, but still, realizing it was a habit I leaned on to find accuracy, not realizing how harshly it affected smoothness. Its taking a lot to break the habit and it feels weird drawing uglier now than I did in high school. However I'm confident that starting over and learning the fundamentals is really going to be worth it, really appreciated this video.

[@Elly-h6d]

Master uncomfortable is back!

[@ericlivernoche522]

More useful information! Your approach to teaching drawing really resonate with me! Thank you!

[@grauntgront3478]

Teacher: "When the trajectory changes, start a new stroke." Teacher: 1:36 *immediately makes a checkmark consisting of 2 trajectories with a single stroke* Me: hmmmm.....

[@leoprzytuac3660]

Oh, the ghosting method. Yes, I know it very well, it has been applied to me several times...

[@RYVENANT]

Do you recommend keeping the paper oriented exactly like that when practicing ghosted lines and superimposed lines, or is angling the paper (to lets say 45 degrees) for a bit of comfort ok?

[@Uncomfortable]

Part of the ghosting method involves specifically rotating your page to find a comfortable angle of approach, so it's not only allowed, it's required.

[@dawnn2004]

Thanks for remaking!!

[@Shorrey]

I got that i don't need to stick to these rules outside of this course, but i assume you would recommend to, right?

[@Uncomfortable]

What I recommend outside of the course - that is, in the case where the purpose is not on learning/improving but rather drawing your own stuff - is to focus on what it is you're drawing, rather than how. I'm a big proponent of the idea that practice trains your instincts, muscle memory, subconscious, whatever you wanna call it, and that this is how we use them while creating our own pieces. Not by consciously applying them, but rather trusting enough that we've learned reliable habits and underlying processes to be able to leverage the skills we've developed. We only have so much in the way of cognitive resources after all - so if we actively have to concern ourselves with how we're making each mark, how we're laying out the space of an illustration, etc. we're taking away from those resources that could instead be spent on designing the environments, the characters, the props, and so forth, or on establishing the atmosphere or conveying the narrative of the piece. All those things that are specific to this particular instance of your work, rather than the skills you use to create it.

[@Shorrey]

@@Uncomfortable oh wow... Thanks for the answer! I like the idea in it. Sounds like you really want to separate the mechanical part of the drawing (apparatus) with the creative part of it. And one should really focus on practicing those separately, which makes sense - the brain activity needed for these two aspects does not overlap too much.

[@quin073179]

so helpful ❤

[@kaivalyashah5634]

Hey Irshad, are you going to renew and add the drawing demos like this for all the DAB lessons? just asking, no pressure though. lol

[@Uncomfortable]

I am indeed gradually working through revising the video content of the entire course. It's something I expect will take several months.

[@kaivalyashah5634]

@@Uncomfortable Dude that's awesome.

[@jamesbuildwise9141]

I was wondering why I didn't see this video when I first started lol. Thanks 👍

[@ootay4473]

You forgot the intro sound! 😅

[@kritikabaidya3736]

was searching for that comment..

[@kacygilbert9434]

Muchas Gracias!

[@rosestar1324]

I was gonna wait untill my dominant hand was healed to start this course. But I've been wanting to improve my drawing for a long time now. I'm just gonna start with my left hand. How funny would it be for me to end up being able to draw with both hands? Might as well try. I'm taking my time with the basics, so why not try to learn with my left hand as well?

[@blitz3391]

Still as good as ever. But darn that paper spoilage makes me unconfortable....

[@bampidraws]

I was just about to comment myself about the use of paper. So unnecessary to use and waste that amount of paper.

[@nowirehangers2815]

You will both be ok

[@namename185]

If these rules don't apply to things outside the course, did that meant you go back to drawing with your wrist again? I think drawing from the shoulder is more beneficial. If you only meant the markmaking rules, isn't drawing with those rules more beneficial too?? At least I certainly think so (so I don't know why anyone would want to go back to their old ways of markmaking for drawings outside the course) .

[@Uncomfortable]

I think you're interpreting that point a little incorrectly. When I say that these strict rules only apply to within the course, it's because I leave it to the student to decide which of the techniques and approaches they've learned best suit the specific situations they encounter while drawing on their own. The point of the course is to provide a context in which you're forced to learn how to work with your shoulder, how to plan before you make each mark, and so on. But outside of the course, no one is going to tell you what to do - it is up to you to make those decisions, based on what you've learned, for yourself.

[@alphabetagamma4142]

Thanks for clearing this up! I had the same question and thought what's the point if I can't apply this outside the course?@@Uncomfortable

[@practicing564]

thankyou

[@mrchristian8782]

thank you!!!

[@denislavpetrov7723]

Thanks, loving your videos!

[@nikitakask]

Weird thing is that I remember "chicken scratching" being seen as the more professional way to draw by some kids when I was in Grade 2.

[@Uncomfortable]

Hahaha, well 2nd graders are 2nd graders after all. Although there is a "form" of chicken scratching that is extremely useful, where we simply build up a longer line through a series of individual intentional, thought-out, intentional strokes - but what beginners tend to do doesn't actually involve thinking things through and getting those strokes to flow fluidly together. And so once we learn to pay attention and where to invest our efforts, eventually we can come back to a technique like that and get a lot more out of it. For now though, it's really just a crutch that students reach for because it's all they know how to do, and they're more focused on maximizing their immediate result, rather than working towards a longer-term goal.

[@irinatotolici2761]

This class is amazing. I do have a question. we are not supposed to grind, but as I understand we are supposed to use some of the lines, ellipses and boxes exercises as warm up for later on when we draw more complex things. is there an optimal warm up routine, or at least a basic on that we can then use to develop our own?

[@Uncomfortable]

It's just as stated in Lesson 0 - add the exercises from each lesson you complete to a pool, and keep them on a regular rotation to ensure you don't accidentally let anything fall through the cracks. As far as an 'optimal' approach goes, that starts to slip more and more towards the concept of "min-maxing" I talked about in this Lesson 0 video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHPNhXqspclgp5o and should be avoided. Learning the fundamentals is not about optimization - it's about taking time, being patient, and being thorough.

[@irinatotolici2761]

@@Uncomfortable Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I will start making my pool and be patient

[@Bibartillust]

OOMAGAAA

[@meridiem.dolorem]

Hey !

[@zachleach829]

i love you

[@inferno6012]

wow

[@omnirhythm]

1:49 The mark must flow.

[@lovehistory5493]

Thx more lesson like this i like it

[@farheenbadar900]

What would I do for consistent flow....how many time to practice...bcoz I m also one hour practice.thanks

[@Uncomfortable]

Be sure to go through the course starting from Lesson 0, which you'll find here: drawabox.com/lesson/0/ . It goes in depth into how the course is meant to be used.

[@farheenbadar900]

Thanks

[@lexmaun69]

"Don't expect perfection" a god once said

[@Red_Schuhart]

Execute the mark? I thought this was a drawing course, not assassin training!

[@sleeper6548]

That Ezio's scene during his father's and brothers' death played in my mind when I read this comment lol

[@Datdus92]

I just found out I am way more stable on paper than on my wacom.

[@waffleson45]

If it's a tablet with a screen you could look into getting a paper like screen protector also those grind away nibs faster so grab more of those will help on screen tablets

[@AJ-kz9ek]

Okay, am able to do all of that,... Should I still continue taking lessons ? Probably yes

[@RedFren-pi3kn]

bro is going through paper like it's beer crackers

[@___xyz___]

0:39 What's wrong with this? Especially the dotting lines. I get accurate proportions dotting the paper with lines to measure ratios on a regular basis. It's also convenient for bright sketches. ps: I dropped into this course by accident. I have no idea what markmaking is. Blame KZbin.

[@Uncomfortable]

I think your PS definitely clarifies things - this "rule" is only applicable within the bounds of this course, due to the specific things it strives to teach and the habits it tries to enforce. It's not that broken lines are inherently bad, just that they interfere with the specific lessons we're teaching here. Outside of the course, students are allowed to draw however they feel comfortable, with the assumption that the course has been enough to instill the intended habits/mindset/experience needed to make choices suitable to a given situation or need.

[@sketchlayer6839]

@@Uncomfortable you mean specifically outside this course or is it allowed in the 50% rule?

[@jennprescott2757]

@@sketchlayer6839 5:28

[@RuinedTemple]

​@@sketchlayer6839 You're allowed to draw however is most comfortable/however you want to during the "play" half of the 50% rule.

[@abajos6]

e as folha hein

[@c.rodrigues3022]

Kkkkkk um br

[@SKK_-xs7hk]

beres

[@painandmisery8971]

Wait, why is the channel name Uncomfortable?

[@beytullahberk3632]

that's his favorite word i think

[@tonystank1214]

pain and misery because that’s how you’ll feel doing this course

[@tagus1]

:D

[@venzarez-ili680]

Notice: No papers we're abused or wasted in this video

[@ragsdev]

Your accent sounds like an Indian's

[@usergmail4272]

So?

[@ragsdev]

I am an Indian too

[@aspiringanimator2991]

Okay

[@jennprescott2757]

I thought he was Asian until I watched the other lesson 1 video